Stability, security shared commitment

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DIALOGUE FOCUSES ON BOOSTING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

‘Together we are making Kuwaiti and American people more secure’

KUWAIT CITY, March 21, (KUNA): Kuwait and United States held the Third United States-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue which mainly focused on enhancing their strategic partnership.

The following is a press release of on the talks, under the title “enhancing Our Strategic Partnership”: The governments of the State of Kuwait and the United States held the third US-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue, the first such dialogue hosted in Kuwait, on March 20, 2019.

US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah co-chaired the opening session. These dialogues produce concrete advances in our strategic partnership in defense, security, trade, investment, education, consular affairs, customs, border protection, and health issues.

Today’s dialogue builds on the September 2018 meeting between President Trump and His Highness Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the White House and represents a year’s progress of the Strategic Dialogue’s working groups. Our two countries took the opportunity of this Dialogue meeting in Kuwait to renew their shared commitment to promote the stability and security of the region.

Secretary Pompeo expressed the appreciation of the American people for the outpouring of affection and tributes from the leadership of Kuwaiti people on the passing of President George H.W. Bush. This dialogue process, begun in October 2016, has materially benefitted both nations; today, we are taking further steps to serve our peoples.

Secretary Pompeo and Deputy Prime Minister Al-Sabah signed a document formalizing the structure of the Strategic Dialogue and affirming both countries’ intent to continue broadening our relationships to meet mutual interests. On political cooperation, the United States and Kuwait discussed the most pressing regional political issues, including the ongoing GCC dispute. The United States reiterated its appreciation for the Amir’s extraordinary efforts to help reach a settlement, and the United States and Kuwait renewed their call for a resolution.

Our two countries share a common view of the need for GCC unity in effectively confronting the region’s many challenges and in promoting a peaceful and prosperous future to the region. We discussed our productive coordination as members of the UN Security Council in 2018 and our priorities for the year ahead. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration in the Council in 2019 to address issues affecting international peace and security, such as countering terrorism and the use of weapons of mass destruction.

The United States and Kuwait recognize the importance of the establishment of the Middle East Strategic Alliance among the United States, the GCC member states, Egypt, and Jordan. Both countries welcomed the discussions on Jan 9 in Muscat, Oman, on the economic and energy pillars, and the consultations on Feb 21 in Washington, DC, on the political and security pillars of the Alliance.

We look forward to further coordination on the establishment of the Alliance, which will enhance multilateral cooperation between the United States and the participating States and address threats to our shared vital interests in regional stability, security and prosperity. The United States recognizes the continuous efforts taken by Kuwait towards maintaining security and stability in Iraq, as well as supporting the Government of Iraq in the process of reconstruction, by hosting the Kuwait International Conference for Reconstruction of Iraq on Feb 12-14, 2018, which resulted in $30 billion in pledges to Iraq. We welcomed the constructive dialogue that took place at the Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East in Warsaw, Poland on Feb 13-14.

The United States appreciates Kuwait’s significant contributions to peace and security in some of the world’s most troubled regions and its willingness to serve as a key source of direct assistance to internally displaced persons, as well as to refugees hosted in other countries. The United States welcomes Kuwait’s recent announcements of additional humanitarian assistance for Yemen and Syria. The United States and Kuwait expressed their support for UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths and reiterated the need for all parties to implement the agreements reached in Stockholm during the December 2018 meeting and to continue working to advance the political process.

Particularly as co-members of the UN Security Council at this time, our delegations reiterated the need for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 to help end the Syrian confl ict and bring lasting stability to that country. We discussed and reviewed efforts to promote Middle East Peace and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian confl ict. We also discussed other regional issues, such as Syria, Libya, and the destabilizing behavior of Iran.

Both countries welcomed the Feb 6 ministerial meeting in Washington, DC, of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS/DAESH and re-affirmed the Coalition’s commitment to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. Both countries called upon the international community to fully implement UN Security Council resolutions regarding North Korea. On defense partnership, the United States reiterated its commitment to Kuwait’s security.

Today, both countries continue to work together closely to ensure that the Armed Forces of Kuwait are effectively equipped to defend their nation through the acquisition of US systems such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the M1A2 tank, and by expanding US comprehensive professional training programs. We discussed our future defense cooperation and the priority of moving forward with modernizing the military facilities in Kuwait used jointly by our forces, as guided by our Joint Military Commission. We discussed future cooperation and the integration of our Armed Forces to enhance the defense of Kuwait in the most efficient and cost effective manner.

The Joint Military Commission will continue considering opportunities for such integration, which both sides agree will enhance the defense of Kuwait. The Kuwait and US defense partnership plays an important role in regional security and stability, and it extends to areas of combating terrorism and deterring external aggression.

The US appreciates Kuwait’s efforts in hosting the Armed Forces Chiefs of Staff Meeting of GCC countries, Egypt, Jordan, and the commander of the US Central Command in September 2018. Kuwait and the US are looking forward to the multinational exercise “Eagle Resolve” to be held in Kuwait in 2020 with participation from GCC countries and the United States, to enhance the military capabilities and deterrence force. Today, we signed an agreement that will allow the US Department of Defense to provide defense articles, training, including counter-terrorism training, and materials to Kuwait on a grant basis.

Both countries welcome the recent dedication of the site of the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial in Washington, DC, and look forward to the future opening of this memorial. It will commemorate and honor those who participated in the liberation of Kuwait through their active duty service in support of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. With regard to security cooperation, the United States and Kuwait are strong partners in the fight against terrorism. Together, we are making the Kuwaiti and American people more secure. We agreed to expand this cooperation in order to thwart potential terrorist attacks.

The United States reiterated its appreciation for Kuwait’s cooperation and its facilitation of the effort to ensure a lasting defeat of ISIS. Both countries remain committed to take further steps to confront global terrorist threats and cut off the financing of terrorism. Recognizing the benefits from combining our resources to defeat this scourge, our nations are taking specific steps to increase information sharing that will help deter terrorist attacks; our growing security cooperation seeks to deny refuge or sanctuary to terrorists and criminals.

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